1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 81st season in the National Hockey League (NHL), their last full season playing at Maple Leaf Gardens, and their last season playing in the Western Conference. Just a few days before the season's start, Mats Sundin became their 17th captain and their first European captain in their 80-year history. The Maple Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season for the first time since the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons.

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

|1||October 1, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||0–1–0 ||

|2||October 4, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||0–2–0 ||

|3||October 7, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||1–2–0 ||

|4||October 9, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||1–2–1 ||

|5||October 11, 1997||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||1–3–1 ||

|6||October 14, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||1–4–1 ||

|7||October 15, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||2–4–1 ||

|8||October 18, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||2–5–1 ||

|9||October 22, 1997||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||2–6–1 ||

|10||October 25, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||3–6–1 ||

|11||October 28, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||3–6–2 ||

|12||November 1, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||3–7–2 ||

|13||November 4, 1997||0–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||3–7–3 ||

|14||November 5, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||4–7–3 ||

|15||November 8, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||4–8–3 ||

|16||November 11, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||5–8–3 ||

|17||November 13, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||6–8–3 ||

|18||November 15, 1997||0–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||6–9–3 ||

|19||November 17, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||6–10–3 ||

|20||November 19, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||7–10–3 ||

|21||November 21, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||7–11–3 ||

|22||November 22, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||7–12–3 ||

|23||November 25, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||8–12–3 ||

|24||November 29, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||8–13–3 ||

|25||December 2, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||8–13–4 ||

|26||December 4, 1997||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||8–14–4 ||

|27||December 6, 1997||7–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||9–14–4 ||

|28||December 8, 1997||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||10–14–4 ||

|29||December 10, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||10–14–5 ||

|30||December 13, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||10–15–5 ||

|31||December 15, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||10–16–5 ||

|32||December 17, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||11–16–5 ||

|33||December 18, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||11–17–5 ||

|34||December 20, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||12–17–5 ||

|35||December 23, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||13–17–5 ||

|36||December 26, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||13–18–5 ||

|37||December 27, 1997||1–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||13–19–5 ||

|38||December 31, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||13–19–6 ||

|39||January 1, 1998||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||13–19–7 ||

|40||January 3, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||13–20–7 ||

|41||January 6, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||13–21–7 ||

|42||January 7, 1998||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||14–21–7 ||

|43||January 10, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||14–22–7 ||

|44||January 12, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||14–23–7 ||

|45||January 14, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||14–24–7 ||

|46||January 21, 1998||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||15–24–7 ||

|47||January 22, 1998||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||16–24–7 ||

|48||January 24, 1998||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||17–24–7 ||

|49||January 26, 1998||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||17–25–7 ||

|50||January 29, 1998||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||17–26–7 ||

|51||January 31, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||17–27–7 ||

|52||February 2, 1998||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||17–28–7 ||

|53||February 4, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||18–28–7 ||

|54||February 5, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||18–29–7 ||

|55||February 7, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||19–29–7 ||

|56||February 25, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||19–29–8 ||

|57||February 26, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||19–30–8 ||

|58||February 28, 1998||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||20–30–8 ||

|59||March 2, 1998||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||20–31–8 ||

|60||March 4, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||20–32–8 ||

|61||March 7, 1998||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||21–32–8 ||

|62||March 9, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||21–33–8 ||

|63||March 11, 1998||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||22–33–8 ||

|64||March 12, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||23–33–8 ||

|65||March 14, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||24–33–8 ||

|66||March 16, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||24–34–8 ||

|67||March 18, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||24–35–8 ||

|68||March 19, 1998||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||24–36–8 ||

|69||March 21, 1998||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||24–36–9 ||

|70||March 24, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||24–37–9 ||

|71||March 26, 1998||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||25–37–9 ||

|72||March 28, 1998||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||26–37–9 ||

|73||March 30, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||26–38–9 ||

|74||April 1, 1998||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||26–39–9 ||

|75||April 4, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||26–40–9 ||

|76||April 6, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||26–41–9 ||

|77||April 7, 1998||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||27–41–9 ||

|78||April 9, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||27–42–9 ||

|79||April 11, 1998||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||28–42–9 ||

|80||April 15, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||29–42–9 ||

|81||April 18, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||29–43–9 ||

|82||April 19, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||30–43–9 ||

Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only. Player Regular season 13 C 82 33 41 74 −3 49 20 RW 82 15 32 47 −4 24 7 LW 77 21 25 46 −7 43 22 RW 78 17 22 39 −18 22 72 D 76 11 26 37 −12 44 19 RW 74 16 16 32 −5 32 94 LW 68 16 15 31 −3 10 11 C 63 10 18 28 −8 40 17 LW 47 12 7 19 −21 80 18 C 60 6 10 16 −7 6 25 D 81 3 13 16 −5 100 28 RW 80 4 10 14 −5 365 8 LW 45 5 8 13 5 20 14 C 80 8 4 12 −20 67 36 D 72 0 12 12 −13 78 3 D 12 3 6 9 2 6 33 D 19 1 8 9 2 10 55 D 25 2 5 7 0 28 34 D 67 0 7 7 −17 63 2 D 59 0 7 7 −8 108 16 RW 6 3 3 6 1 4 12 LW 82 3 3 6 −13 199 21 LW 29 2 4 6 −1 8 38 D 38 2 4 6 −6 6 24 D 22 1 4 5 −5 10 16 C 13 0 5 5 1 10 33 D 9 0 4 4 2 8 39 RW 13 0 1 1 −2 14 42 C 5 0 0 0 0 7 31 G 2 0 0 0 0 30 G 21 0 0 0 0 29 G 67 0 0 0 8 23 D 2 0 0 0 1 0 26 D 10 0 0 0 −9 6

Goaltending Player Regular season 29 Felix Potvin 67 26 33 7 1882 176 2.73 .906 5 3864 30 Glenn Healy 21 4 10 2 453 53 2.98 .883 0 1068 31 Marcel Cousineau 2 0 0 0 9 0 0.00 1.000 0 17

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(annual) NHL All-Rookie Team Mike Johnson (Forward) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Mats Sundin NHL Rookie of the Month Mike Johnson (December) Team Molson Cup Felix PotvinToronto Maple Leafs 2015–16 Media Guide, p.373

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Kevyn Adams October 1, 1997 Alyn McCauley Martin Prochazka October 9, 1997 Danny Markov February 2, 1998 1,000th game played Jamie Macoun November 8, 1997

Transactions The Maple Leafs were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.

Trades September 30, 1997To St. Louis BluesKelly ChaseTo Toronto Maple LeafsFuture Considerations January 2, 1998To Carolina Hurricanes4th-round pick in 1999 – Yevgeny PavlovTo Toronto Maple LeafsJeff Brown March 7, 1998To Vancouver CanucksBrandon ConveryTo Toronto Maple LeafsLonny Bohonos March 17, 1998To Ottawa SenatorsPer GustafssonTo Toronto Maple Leafs8th-round pick in 1998 – Dwight Wolfe March 24, 1998To Dallas StarsMike KennedyTo Toronto Maple Leafs8th-round pick in 1998 – Michal Travnicek March 24, 1998To Detroit Red WingsJamie MacounTo Toronto Maple Leafs4th-round pick in 1998 – Alexei Ponikarovsky March 24, 1998To Washington CapitalsJeff BrownTo Toronto Maple LeafsSylvain Cote June 27, 1998To Chicago Blackhawks1st-round pick in 1998 – Mark Bell 4th-round pick in 1998 – Matthias TrattnigTo Toronto Maple Leafs1st-round pick in 1998 – Nik Antropov 3rd-round pick in 1998 – Jamie Hodson 5th-round pick in 1998 – Morgan Warren

Expansion draft June 26, 1998To Nashville PredatorsRob Zettler

Free agents Player Former team Mike Kennedy Dallas Stars Derek King Hartford Whalers Kris King Phoenix Coyotes Glenn Healy New York Rangers Kevyn Adams Grand Rapids Griffins (IHL) Igor Korolev Phoenix Coyotes Player New team Jamie Heward Philadelphia Flyers Mike Craig San Jose Sharks

Draft picks Toronto's picks at the 1997 NHL entry draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.